Knuckling after Gabapentin in dogs

The FDA has received 160 reports of knuckling in dogs after Gabapentin. That is 1.8% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.1% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

160Reports

82%Marked serious

6.3%Recovered

38%Died or euthanised

20 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

23 18%

1–2 days

15 12%

3–7 days

7 5.6%

1–4 weeks

35 28%

Over a month

46 37%

How the animals did

Recovered

10 6.3%

Still unwell when reported

75 47%

Died

14 8.8%

Euthanised

46 29%

Not known

15 9.4%

Problems reported at the same time

Death

60 38%

Weakness

52 33%

Wobbliness (ataxia)

48 30%

Proprioception deficit

40 25%

31 19%

29 18%

28 18%

27 17%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Gabapentin used for pain and to reduce stress or anxiety.

Questions owners ask

Can Gabapentin cause knuckling in dogs?: 160 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?: In half of the reports with dates, it started within 20 days of the first dose.
What should I do?: Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

Knuckling with similar medicines

Knuckling after Trazodone 22 reports · 0.9% of its reports

All reported side effects of Gabapentin in dogs · Medicines most reported with knuckling